Four years ago, Hollister National sent another team to the
Division 9-10 year-old Little League All-Stars Tournament. While
that team played in Folsom and this 2003 version is currently
playing in a much closer proximity
– Cupertino – there are a couple of comparisons.
Four years ago, Hollister National sent another team to the Division 9-10 year-old Little League All-Stars Tournament. While that team played in Folsom and this 2003 version is currently playing in a much closer proximity – Cupertino – there are a couple of comparisons.
Both teams played River Park of Fresno in the first game and both were winners. The ’99 team edged River Park 6-5 in seven innings, while Hollister National blanked River Park 3-0 on Saturday.
And while the 2003 stars play Alameda tonight, the ’99 team was eliminated by Alameda 3-0 in the infamous “bomb explosion game”.
A tire factory explosion forced closure of Highway 50, which bottled up traffic to no end. The bulk of Hollister National players, coaches and parents were staying at a fancy hotel in Carmichael.
National assistant coach Rich Haggett picks it up from there.
“We received a phone call at about 2:15 p.m. from the tournament director,” said Haggett. “He told us that the freeway was closed and that we had better start for the field as soon as possible. A lot of us were taking a nap or in the shower or spread out in the hotel somewhere. We couldn’t get everybody gathered until 3 p.m. It took us about two and a half hours to get to the game.”
National manager Dale Barnes was coming up from Hollister and was caught in the traffic jam, as well.
“I didn’t arrive until the first inning,” said Barnes. “They re-routed us off the freeway. Alameda was staying at a hotel on the other side and close to the park and wasn’t affected by the traffic. I honestly felt we could have come back and won that game if there wasn’t that explosion.”
Haggett recalls more of a ceremonial atmosphere than this year’s Division tourney.
“We had a coaches meeting the night before at this big hotel and they fed us,” said Haggett. “And we had all six teams line up on the field in uniforms for opening ceremonies and they would talk about each team and how they got there. That field in Folsom was the best field I have ever been on. They had college level lights. Our second game was a night game. It was exciting for all of us because we stayed in this fancy motel in Carmichael.”
Haggett is impressed with this team, mainly because it got there.
“It’s impressive to have two teams from the same league with the section within four years,” said Haggett.
Although I was in the area back in ’99, I didn’t travel to Folsom to catch any of the NorCal State games. I was in Cupertino Saturday and I was in awe. I refuse to compare teams. That only opens up a can of worms. I can honestly say and I told Hollister National manager Jerry Sepulveda after his club’s win on Saturday that it was the best I had seen a Hollister Little League All-Star team play, considering the pressure of the situation.
Daniel Arevalo was outstanding in the early innings at shortstop, going to his left and to his right to take base hits away. In fact, nearly everyone on the team made great plays.
I’m starting to really like Cooper Sepulveda at first base and the way he handles himself over there. I don’t think I’ve seen him make an error. And, boy, has he been swinging the bat. He just missed his second All-Stars home run Saturday when he cranked one off the center field fence.
Then to see a guy like Adrian Casarez make a play at third base, then go out to the outfield and run in to make a tough catch the next inning is special. His replacement at third, Eric Escalante, fielded a pressure ground ball to his left to throw out a River Park runner at first for the final out of the inning.
Everyone is contributing and that’s what it takes to win champioships. No matter what happens to this Hollister National team, it has proven itself beyond all expectations. Hollister National 9-10’s are nearing the conclusion for one of the best performance at All-Stars for the combined National and American Leagues. The two leagues met in both 9-10 and 11-12 District championships. The American and National 9-10 B teams combined for seven wins and the American B team nearly upset the American A team, losing 10-9 in its final game of the District Tournament.
No Hollister team has gone to the Regional in San Bernardino since 1989. The 1987 Hollister LIttle League All-Stars was just one win away from going to Williamsport.
“We were all trying to find out how we could max out our credit cards to see how we could get back to Williamsport,” said Barnes, who was coaching in the Minors back then.
If the 2003 National 9-10 stars are any indication of the future of Hollister Little League, combined with the outstanding performance by the rest of the Hollister Little League All-Star teams, then a Williamsport berth won’t be too far fetched.
For these kids can play the game.
